Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-11-03
THE MAN COULD SELL GOODS.
The Story Told Of New York Drum
mer.

A New York merchant tells the story
Of a green drummer, who went out on
the road after the old men OF the house
had failed to sell certain line. The
merchant said: We'll, he was back In
side Of a week, and In that time he sold
Il won't venture to say from memory
how many cases Of goods. But ! re.
member he did surprisingly well. And
what made his success the more re-
markable, he GOT his orders in the very
towns which my old statesmen that I've
mentioned worked to no purpose. A
long came Porter's kilograms, 'send
two cases here send two cases there,
send six cases yonder,' etc. On his re-
turn l inyited him to come into my
private Office, and congratulated him
on the work he had done. lie seemed
grati6ed at my commendation, but all
he said was {: Il thought l could sell
some goods for you, Mr.. Holbrook.
Then spoke to him about the largest
order he had secured. His eyes lit up
as he remarked:
1T was tough job getting that or
der. thought at first was going to
lose it,
How so p
well, | went into the mans store
and talked to him most of the after
noon, but / couldn't fetch him. He
said he liked the goods ; he didn't kick
at the price, but he wouldn't decide. l
went back to my hotel disappointed but
after supper l felt better, and deter
mined I'd go up to his home and make
him social call so that he wouldn't
forget me, you see y
Yes, see.'
'Well, in the evening called round
to his house about O'Clock. ] didn't
know him or any Of his folks, and nat
urally felt a little embarrassed.
Naturally
Yes, but l told him that disliked
hanging around hotel and took the
liberty of calling on him. He answered
the door-bell himself and seemed glad
to see me. He had four pretty daugh-
tiers and he introduced me to them and
pretty soon me and the girls were sing
ing some popular songs, as nice as you
please
Il didn't know you sang, Porter
'Oh, sing little, Mr.. Holbrook.
find it helps me in selling goods. Well,
after the songs, sat down at the piano
and played the girls new waltz or two
that they hadn't heard, and then l felt
that we were real good friends
And so you are piano player p
We'll, manage TO do a few tunes
find it helps in cur business, Mr.. Hol.
brook. The girls father sat by and
seemed to be greatly entertained with
the music, and when got up from the
piano he thanked me heartily. Don't
speak of it, said I. Then the girls and
l got talking about one thing and a.
mother and pretty soon l noticed q
banjo standing in a corner, decked out
with bright ribbons. l asked the girls
which one of them played it, and they
said they got it for ornament, and that
none of them could play on it. Sc
greatly to their delight got down the
banjo and gave them lesson on it.
Then the banjo Is another of your
accomplishments, Porter p
II can pick the strings little, Mr..
Hol5rook-I find it helps in selling
goods. Well. 1 stayed until II o'clock
and when l took my leave the father
and all his girls came to the door with
me and politely invited me to call again
when l came to town. l didn't see
their mother. I presume she was dead,
but l didn't think it proper to ask.
Next day went into the mans store
bright and early. He tried to beg of
with taking one case Of my goods, but
l wouldn't hear Cf it. Take six or
nothing, said I; one case will help to
sell another Finally he gave in and
ran to the telegraph office and sent
you his order
Porter l remarked, with as grave a
face as I could command as he finished
his narrative, here is one caution that
| must give you. BE careful when you
are off on the road to refrain from in
truding upon another salesman's terri
tory. To do so makes trouble in the
store
'I'll try and do so, but l suppose you
want me to sell all the goods can, Mr..
Holbrook p
'Oh, yes. Let's see, Porter, what sal.
ary are you drawing p
Seventy dollars month, Mr.. Hol-
brook
And you have been with us how
longp'
Two months or Thursday
And you wanted how much wheD
you came p
Well, l told you l thought l would
be worth 81 500 to you.'
Very good, ST 500 it is, your salary
at that fgure dating from the day you
began
THANK you very much, Mr.. Hol-
brook-l think l can sell some goods
for you.'
Nuns Who Never See a Man.